And likewise, I would like to see any current USAC front runner turn a 1:45:00 lap at Spa and take turn 4 wide open... It's all relative...

You're right, smb, the rear engine cars back then were much more difficult to drive and much more dangerous than the "techno-spec" cars we have today, thus, making the transition from a sprint or midget, much more difficult than it would be today. Parnelli, Foyt, Mario, Bobby U and Al Sr all became world class road racers not only in openwheel indy cars but also, sports cars and stock cars (Trans Am). Who would've figured these lowly sprint car guys could've done that? Now, are you saying that the genetic make-up of the sprint car driver of today is different than in the 60's, making the transition unlikely? Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart would be incapable of running the indy cars competitively?

It Take No Talent To Drive A Indy Car Today! It Takes Money! You Got Kids And Girls Driving Them! Like I Said Bring Them To Winchester To Take There Drivers Test! If They Can Run 10 Miles At At A 15.10 Lap Average Then Can Go To Indy!

And you have kids and girls driving sprints and midgets... What's your point?

The Point Is It Should Be The 33 Best Open Wheel Drivers Not The 33 Rich Drivers! The Kids And Girls Are Driving The Dads Midgets/ Sprints Cars! Not Hired Guns Like It Should Be! A Kid With No Money Will Never Race! My Dad Always Said You Can Tell Someone From Mo, But You Can't Tell Them Much!!!!!!

This is an argument that has gone on for at least 25 or more years. 50 - 60 years ago, the ladder system was midgets, sprints, and championship cars. The cars were all basically the same but they got bigger and so did the track size as you moved up the ladder. So it was a natural progression. It's just not that way any more.

I'm a little bit narrow-minded when it comes to racing. I love USAC first and IndyCar second. The rest of it is a distant third for me. But this is the USA and you are free enjoy whatever you want. So If Indy doesn't float your boat any more, then don't waste your time with it. Don't let your fleeting life be bogged down by something you can't stand. Just move on to what you do like. Personally I still love Indy and I will be there in May for my 49th consecutive race.

The old saying goes, "The only thing that's permanent is change." Everything changes and there is nothing you can do about it. I long for the days of the Gary and Larry show...Vogler...Hurtubise...Parnelli...Nazaruk... Sweikert...Sachs. But it ain't gonna happen again. The best I can hope for is my fond (and increasingly foggy) rememberance of the "old days".

Just for the record, half the current IndyCar field is not American. I counted about seven of about 26 full time drivers, including Graham Rahal. Let me know if I missed somebody.

Gregg! Who Are This American Drivers? Did They Come From Midgets /sprints?

Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Ed Carpenter, AJ Foyt IV, Buddy Rice, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Graham Rahal were all USA born drivers entered at Homestead. Ed Carpenter and AJ IV have run in USAC.:usacfan

When you can field a team you can hire whom ever you want but if the drivers did not have to bring money then we would only see like 5 teams that could afford a entire season and no one would want to watch that

SOME ONE AWAYS HAS TO FOOT THE BILL!!!!!

There used to be a natural progression thru the ranks to get to Indy but most of the owners used to have a midget or Sprint along with a Indycar so that helped drivers move up the ladder. In todays Indycar world unless you are Penske, AGR, Ganassi, Newman-Haas who I believe secure the sponsership for thier own cars and go out and hire the best drivers that they can on tallent not by how much they can bring $$$ they can bring to the team. Dont get me wrong I to miss those days of going to qualifing the head to the Fairgrounds to watch the Sprints run the 3 features two 33 lapers and a 34 but I bet if DD walked up to one of the owners who has an open ride with a check 2.5m he could get that ride but todays openwheel drivers doesnt have the cash or the contacts. I think this started going away 30 to 35 years ago when the Owners started changing to Indycar owners only.